System and method for determining liquid consumption by domestic animal from water dispenser

A method for monitoring and determining consumption from a water dispenser by an animal executed by a visual monitoring system, the method comprising:

• a) the animal approaching the water dispenser and coming into a view of a visual monitoring device, wherein the water dispenser includes a serving bowl for presenting a liquid for consumption and the visual monitoring device is affixed or part of the water dispenser and located above the serving bowl;
• b) the animal consuming a liquid from a serving area of the water dispenser;
• c) the visual monitoring device automatically capturing incoming image(s) of the animal consuming the liquid and converting the incoming image(s) to incoming image data, wherein the incoming image data includes:
• i) at least a portion of a face and/or a neck of the animal visually indicating the animal is consuming the liquid;
• ii) a number of laps while the animal is consuming the liquid from the serving area;
• iii) a start time at which the animal begins to consume the liquid;
• and
• iv) an end time at which the animal completes consuming the liquid;
• and
• d) automatically determining an amount of the liquid consumed by the animal based on the incoming image data.